Theatre Student Directs Play

March 22, 2012 (Jackson) - Belhaven student, Eleanor Baxter, is directing her first play for a theatre production project, giving her valuable experience toward her career. Baxter will direct an inspirational play from American playwright Lee Blessing called Eleemosynary.

Eleemosynary will premiere in Belhaven's Center for the Arts, Theatre 151 on March 29 – April 3 from 7:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. This play presents the lives of the three women as they struggle to define themselves both as individuals and part of a family. It is a study of family relationships, and highlights the need for connection and forgiveness.

Fellow theatre classmates, Ginny Holladay, Jill Cromwell and Ashley Elizabeth Murray will take the stage and perform under Baxter’s direction.

Baxter is a senior from Sun City Center, Florida and is pursuing a Bachelor of Art in Theatre Performance. Student directed plays are part of a series of performances from the Theatre Department that explore challenging topics and discover inspiring and innovative material.

When training student artists, the Belhaven University Theatre Department takes a liberal arts approach to teaching its curriculum. Students get a wide range of knowledge on and off the stage and this particular project is one of the experiences that prepare students for a career in theatre.

General admission is $10 and $5 for seniors, children and students. There is complementary admission for Belhaven faculty, staff and students. The doors open at 7:00 P.M.

Belhaven stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Switchfoot Concert Follow-up

October 1, 2010: Switchfoot’s benefit concert for the John M. Perkins Foundation was a huge success. A near capacity crowd came together in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall to support the foundation's efforts and to raise funds for the Foundation’s music studio, which was broken into several months ago.

VIP ticket holders were able to meet the band and receive an autographed poster and a book containing Switchfoot’s lastest CD, Hello Hurricane, and a DVD. Switchfoot’s lead singer John Foreman introduced opening act Dathan Thigpen and Holy Nation, a praise and worship choir gospel group from Jackson.

Foreman welcomed to the stage Dr. John M. Perkins, who reminded the audience about racial, social, and religious boundaries that have been crossed during his life and expressed his hope for further change in future generations. He considered the concert a culmination of much of his life’s work and reflected “perhaps, next to salvation in Jesus Christ, the most important moment in his life.”

With smoke, blasting sound, and animated lighting Switchfoot followed. The bands setlist included songs from several albums, including “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move” from their album Beautiful Letdown and “The Sound (The John M. Perkins Blues)” from Hello Hurricane. Switchfoot is known for their high-energy performances, and this concert was no different, complete with Foreman’s stage antics and walking through the crowd. The band was joined for the last several performances by Holy Nation, accompanied by their background vocals.

Switchfoot’s relationship with Dr. Perkins began when Foreman read Perkins’ book Let Justice Roll Down, and convinced the rest of the band to read it as well. Foreman and Perkins were able to meet in the spring of 2009, and during their time together Foreman was inspired to write the song “The Sound (The John M. Perkins Blues)” for Perkins and the mission for which he has given his life.

Let us know what you thought about the concert on Belhaven University's Facebook page.

Belhaven stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Theatre Students Perform and Direct in One Act Play Festival

 

ovember 26, 2012 (Jackson) - The 6th Annual One Act Play Festival is an evening of short plays acted, produced, written and directed by Belhaven theatre students. Students from Belhaven’s Theatre Department will showcase their creative works on November 27 and 28 at the Belhaven Center for the Arts Blackbox Theatre, located on 835 Riverside Drive.

The plays were chosen from the 2012 Belhaven University One Act Submissions and will showcase a combination of student’s production, supervising and directing skills.

Joe Frost, Chair of the Theatre Department and Assistant Professor of Theatre said, “It's a great opportunity for our students to learn the art of collaboration in the classroom and in production all in the same project. We're so pleased that it is in its 6th year and still able to present exciting new short works to our audience.”

These submissions include The Silence, directed by Allison Horton, written by Connie Schindewolf. The comedy, Time Slot, directed by Courtney Rogers and written by Kay Poiro, is a play about a TV housewife who has a quiet evening planned, but is interrupted by some interesting science fiction characters.

Other one act plays include Bergmann and Mr. Trolp, a suspenseful thriller, directed by Matthew Hester and written by Jonathan Dixon. “As a playwright, it’s the highest compliment to see your work performed on stage,” said Dixon. Dixon also wrote Drakmoore and the Hungry Beast and will be directed by Sarah Renick. This play is a comedy about friendships and finding acceptance in one’s community.

Desserts and hot chocolate will be on sale during the performance to benefit Belhaven’s Alpha Psi Omega chapter of the National Theatre Honor Society.

Admission is free and the show will start at 8:00 p.m. Contact the Belhaven Theatre Box Office at 601-965-7026 or e-mail boxoffice@belhaven.edu for additional information.

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Belhaven University stands among select Christian colleges and universities and has been repeatedly named one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys." The University offers 30 academic majors across a full spectrum of disciplines as well as a variety of graduate programs. In addition, Belhaven has achieved the distinction of being among only 30 universities nationally accredited in each of the major arts – music, theatre, visual art and dance. All programs are taught from a Christian worldview perspective and are guided by the mission to prepare students academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Belhaven University serves over 3,700 students offering undergraduate and graduate degrees on its residential campus, an online degree program, and graduate and adult degree programs in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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The Fall Course Schedule is Here

August 1, 2011 - Sign up for fall classes today. The new list of fall courses is up and ready for viewing to help you plan your semester with Belhaven.

Are you seeking a degree, or trying to develop your career with a few extra classes, or do you want to learn about other subjects out of interest?

Whatever it is, you can choose from hundreds of classes at one of Belhaven’s campuses or online. Compare courses and find the right class schedule that fits into your life and helps you plan your year in education.

Belhaven’s helpful admissions staff will help you enroll and get started.

Belhaven proudly stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Tramaine Brock Makes 49ers Roster

September 9, 2010 - Former Blazer defensive backTramaine Brock has earned a spot on the San Fransico 49ers 53 man roster. Brock’s hard work in training camp this summer impressed the 49ers coaching staff. “When you look at Brock,” said 49ers head coach Mike Singetary, “he’s a kid who comes to practice and every day gets a little better.”

In four games during the preseason, Brock had six total tackles as a defensive back/special teams player and came up with an interception against the San Diego Charges late in the fourth quarter to secure a win for San Francisco in their final preseason game.

Tramaine Brock and Jacob Phillips, both former Blazers, were two of only three NAIA players to sign NFL contracts in 2010. "I'll take any Tramaine Brock who wants to fall in my lap any day of the week," Belhaven coach Joe Thrasher said. "He came in and he was just as humble as can be. He comes to work every day. He was a kid who was never late for practice, never missed a meeting, and was 'Yes, sir,' 'No, sir.' If something ever happened, I could say, 'Tramaine,' and he'd already know what he did wrong and correct it. He made my job easy.”

Of his performance during training camp Brock said, “I wasn’t thinking about my chances of making the team. I was just going out every day and competing. I just wanted to go out every day and get better and keep producing.” Brock will be playing cornerback for the 49ers.

Belhaven University, formerly Belhaven College, prepares men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas. Founded in 1883, the University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and online.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Swine Flu: Prevention and Prognosis Seminar

August 24, 2009—With all of the hype surrounding the H1N1 virus, many people don’t know what to think about it. As part of the Fall Biology Seminar Series at Belhaven College, Paul Byers, M.D., will present a lecture on the H1N1 virus, focusing on its prevention and future prognosis. Dr. Byers is the Deputy State Epidemiologist, Office of Communicable Diseases, Division of Epidemiology, for the MS State Department of Health. This puts him in direct contact with everything done in the state with regard to the H1N1 virus. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions, as there will be a Q & A time at the close of the lecture.

This community-oriented seminar will take place in Barber Auditorium on the Belhaven campus on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 6:00 pm. It is free of charge and open to the public. Please call the Belhaven College Office of Communications with questions: 601-965-7044, or email pr@belhaven.edu.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Transfer B and U Day

July 12, 2011 (Jackson) - Transfer students, it’s time for your introduction to Belhaven University. Transfer B & U Day will start this Friday, July 15. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. in the lobby of Barber Auditorium, followed by a day of other scheduled events.

Meet with your faculty advisor, schedule fall semester classes, get your student ID and parking decal. The bookstore and business offices will be open and ready to help you. This is also a great opportunity to meet other students who will be attending Belhaven in the fall.

Belhaven proudly stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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The Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht Is Coming to Belhaven

October 6, 2011 (Jackson) - You don’t have to go all the way to Broadway for an entertaining play. Belhaven University has the next best thing, The Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht. This play is a Highland Players Guild production featuring alumni of the Belhaven Theatre Department.

"We're very excited to be able to do this first production with the Highland Players Guild, and welcome back to Belhaven's stage so many of the alumni that have helped build this department as students." said Joseph Frost, Chair and Associate Professor of Theatre. "It's been a great opportunity for me to direct some of the graduates that I never had the opportunity to work with in a production while they were here, and to see them mix with some of the more recent alumni has been a rewarding experience for us all," adds Frost.

Performances for The Life of Galileo will be in the one-of-a-kind Blackbox Theatre in the Belhaven Center for the Arts. The play starts on Wednesday, October 19 and goes through Saturday, October 22. Doors open at 7:00 P.M.

The story of Galileo has a compelling tension between the certainty of faith and the curious doubt that drives innovation and discovery. Brecht has created a work that presents both sides of this argument, with a hero whose flaws are visible, and antagonists whose fear becomes almost reasonable – which is what gives the play its power.

General admission is $10 and $5 for seniors, students, and children. There is complimentary admission for Belhaven faculty, staff, students and immediate families.

Keep checking in with Belhaven for more upcoming Arts Ablaze events from our School for the Arts students.

Belhaven proudly stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

View the original article here

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Welcome Week

July 22, 2011 (Jackson) - Belhaven is buzzing with excitement over the upcoming fall semester. The countdown has begun, and our Welcome Week is starting the year off with a bang on Saturday, August 20.

Welcome Week starts at 9:00 a.m. in the Student Center and is designed for our new class of freshmen and transfer students. Hear from and meet our faculty and staff, and start moving in and making Belhaven your home away from home. Spend some time with the many students you will be sharing this exciting time of your life with.

Belhaven has filled up the week with many fun and informative activities for students scheduled every day. The Welcome Week Guide, you will receive at check-in, will give you more information about the schedule, events, and staff introductions. Make your way around the campus and get a bearing on where everything is located.

Belhaven’s Student Center will be set-up to take care of every need. Students can turn in all necessary forms and paperwork while getting their mailbox key, student ID card and car decal.

New Belhaven parents, we haven’t forgotten about you. Welcome Week is not only designed to introduce students to Belhaven, but parents and families as well. All parents will receive their own packets at check-in that will include their own agenda and guide to Belhaven. Parents will also have an orientation and welcome dinner.

Among meeting faculty and staff, parents will get a glimpse of their child’s college life and what’s happening at Belhaven this year. This will be a great chance for our Belhaven family to meet your family.

For more information about Belhaven's Welcome Week, contact the Office of Student Leadership.

Belhaven proudly stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Verse of the Year

September 13, 2010 - Once each year the president of the University shares the vision for Belhaven, using as his text our annual Verse of the Year verse of the year. At the start of the school year, Dr. Parrott spoke to all faculty, staff, special friends, and student leader from Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous!... The LORD your God will go ahead of you.”

With nearly 400 full time faculty and staff, now spread out over 6 physical campuses, plus our online campus, there is only one time each year all employees come together. Reflecting on this year’s Service of Dedication, Dr. Parrott said, “From my perspective, during these 16 years, there have been three of these messages that have been most important (although last years would be a close 4th in my ranking): 1996 – My first message to the campus set the tone for our future together. 2003 – I introduced a new planning model to the campus based on the metaphor of becoming sailboats to catch the wind of God, rather than powerboats who go where we assume God wants us to go, but operate ignoring the wind. 2010 – I’ve outlined our mission in a fresh way, as the Lord has developed us as a university of over 3,000 students.”

If you’d like to listen, read, or download the message, you can find it HERE. But the core ideas in summary include:

What distinguishes Belhaven University from all the other 4,168 schools in America is our commitment to: “purposeful stewardship.”

It comes down to this idea – we have a drive and culture ingrained in Belhaven that seeks to get the best out of everything that God has given to us. We are purposefully good stewards of whatever the Lord entrusts to us.

1. We have a calling to the stewardship of teaching an unchanging biblical worldview.

We are unwavering in the major issues of our Christian faith, and couple that solid biblical commitment with grace to be accepting of a variety of perspectives the minor issues of faith. We together all of God’s people across the evangelical spectrum of the Church.

The uniqueness of Christ as the only way to the Father

The belief in justification by faith alone

The authority and inerrancy of scripture

The transforming power of the Holy Spirit

The reality of eternal life to come.

Like the pillars that symbolize Belhaven near our fountain, these timeless pillars of what it means to be a follower of Jesus are unmovable at the center of our campus.

2. We have a calling to the stewardship of valuing every student.

We take every student – just where they are – and we invest in them to help get the most out of them. We don’t just try to push students through a pre-designed program that makes it easy for us. Instead, we try to work with each one as a unique person whom God designed with special gifts, drive, and purpose.

We are convinced that every student at Belhaven University came here because God hand-picked them to come here. And because they are a gift to us from God, we must be purposeful stewards of every single one of them.

3. We have a calling to the stewardship of honoring God-given opportunities.

Our planning is built around waiting for God’s wind to blow, rather than traditional destination planning that attempts to predict where God wants us to go in the future. Yes, we plan, but we do it locally, as close to every academic department, office, team, and function as possible – in order to be purposeful stewards of what God has already given us.

We do stewardship planning, instead of predicting a future in destination planning that wastefully consumes most schools, attempting to predict future outcomes that are often far beyond their control.

Download, read, or listen to Dr. Parrot's speech by following the link above.

Belhaven University, formerly Belhaven College, prepares men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas. Founded in 1883, the University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and online.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

View the original article here

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Welcome Week Starts on August 18

August 15, 2012 (Jackson) - Welcome Week is almost here and we are looking forward to having our students back on campus. Incoming freshmen and transfer students will be moving in this weekend and can look forward to the start of an amazing year.

The week will be filled with many fun activities like the BU carnival, late night breakfast, off-campus road trip and movie night as well as informative events that will help students prepare for the upcoming semester. The Welcome Week schedule has been updated for both students and parents, so don’t forget to take a look at the changes.

The Welcome Week Guide, provided at check-in on Saturday, will give additional information about events, resources and the staff. Students can turn in all necessary forms and paperwork while getting their mailbox key, student ID card and car decal. Welcome Week is also a good time for students to meet professors and staff while spending time with other classmates.

All new Belhaven parents will receive their own packets at check-in that will include their own agenda and guide to Belhaven. Parents will also have an orientation and welcome dinner. The Welcome Week schedule for parents will give them a chance to meet faculty and staff, a look into college life and a glimpse into what is happening at Belhaven this year. For more information about Belhaven's Welcome Week, contact the Office of Student Leadership.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Visit Belhaven on the November 14th "Discover Day" for Prospective Students

It only takes one visit to see what sets Belhaven apart from other colleges. Experience the difference first-hand during our upcoming Discover Day on November 14, 2008. Students will have the opportunity to meet a professor in their desired major, take a tour of campus, and eat lunch in the dinning commons. There’s also a chance to meet with your personal Admission Counselor and discuss how to apply for admission. Financial aid counselors will also be available to help you understand how financial aid works for you. 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14th. Register now at: http://www.belhaven.edu/admission/discover_days.htm

For more information about Belhaven Admission, visit the admission web site.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Welcome Week 2010

July 28, 2010: Welcome Week begins on August 14. Belhaven University looks forward to this time especially reserved for introducing incoming students to their new Belhaven home. The Office of Student Leadership has been working all summer planning for this eventful week.

If you are an incoming freshman or transfer, after your initial check-in on Saturday, August 14, you will find your schedule filled with group activities and sessions designed to help you get to know your school, campus, and peers. From academic orientation to canoe races, the next few days will be a memorable introduction to life as a Blazer!

Belhaven University, formerly Belhaven College, prepares men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas. Founded in 1883, the University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, and online.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Upcoming Arts Events

September 30
Preston Chamber Music Series
An Evening of Diamonds I
Guest Artist Ana Catalina Ramirez, Clarinet
Tuesday, 7:30 pm, Concert Hall
Ana Catalina Ramirez, Principal Clarinetist of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra presents an evening of Latin American chamber music. Dr. Stephen Sachs is her accompanist. General admission $10, Seniors/Students/Children $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven faculty/staff/students and immediate families. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

October 2 – November 6
Jerry Allen Painting Exhibition
Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center, Gallery.
Opening reception is Thursday, October 2, 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
An internationally known artist from Oxford, MS whose work is best described as figurative, he concerns himself with the representation of political and social realities. He is included in Who’s Who in American Art and studied on a Group Studies Fulbright Grant in Costa Rica, Central America, received the 1993 Visual Art Award of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters, and an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Complimentary admission.

October 4
Community Dance Concert
Saturday, 7:30 pm, Concert Hall
Members of Belhaven College dance faculty join together with Belhaven alumni and other local dance artists to offer an inspiring and stimulating evening of dance. General admission $10, Seniors/Students/Children $5, and Belhaven College faculty and staff $2. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Please check the Arts Schedule for a complete listing of all upcoming Belhaven fine arts events.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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United States Air Force Band Performs at Belhaven

The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, under the baton of Major Donald E. Schofield Jr. gave a free concert at The Center of The Arts, Belhaven College, on Monday, October 8, 2007. The musical production performed a wide variety of musical selections, ranging from Fantasy Variations-James Barnes to Selections from Stevie Wonder-arr. MSgt. Dean Smith. The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America also awarded Belhaven's Director of Bands, Dr. Paxton Girtmon, who conducts the marching band, pep band, and concert band, the opportunity to be a guest conductor. The selection Dr. Girtmon conducted was Samuel Barber's Commando March.

As an added treat, Major Donald E. Schofield Jr., asked Dr. Girtmon to recommend a Belhaven music student attending the concert the opportunity to conduct a musical selection. Sam Johnson, freshman trumpet music major was given the opportunity to conduct Henry Fillmore's Americans We. Furthermore, Major Donald E. Schofield Jr., gave Sam Johnson two gifts; 1) Dog tags saying, “I conducted The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America,” and 2) A conducting baton used by Major Donald E. Schofield Jr.

For their dedication and service to their country, The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America performed the musical selection A Salute to the Armed Services- arr. Robert Cray, a musical tribute to all branches of the military and its soldiers. The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America performed every Armed Forces theme song, while relatives of, as well as, past and present members of each military branch stood and were recognized. The final selection of the performance was John P. Sousa's Star and Stripes Forever.

Special thanks goes to Dr. Stephen Sachs, Chair of the Belhaven Music Department, for his efforts in bringing this concert band to Belhaven College.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Two Belhaven Alumni Awarded Teacher of the Year

Two Belhaven College alumni were honored with the 2008-09 Teacher of the Year Award from the Mississippi Private School Education Association (MPSEA). Mr. Cliff Powers (`87) and Ms. Elizabeth “Betty” Sugg (`69) received the Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year award, respectively. Both are Belhaven graduates.

Mr. Cliff Powers, Kindergarten teacher, has taught at University Christian School in Flowood, Mississippi for three years. Ms. Elizabeth “Betty” Sugg, English instructor, has taught at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for 22 years.

The recipients were selected from nominees throughout the 122 member schools in the association. Selections are made based upon recommendations, classroom success, community and professional involvement, as well as their answers to five professional and educational related questions.

Congratulations to these dedicated alumni who are living out the vision of Belhaven College: to prepare students academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Whiting and Roché Named to GCAC All-Conference Team

The Belhaven College Men’s Basketball team saw two members receive honors for their success on the court during the 2008-2009 season. Senior forward Korey Whiting and sophomore center Nathaniel Roché were named to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference All Conference team when the awards were announced by the GCAC.

Whiting, a native of Stafford, VA, averaged 14.3 points per game in the regular season and had an average of eight rebounds per night. Whiting also recorded eight double doubles and scored at least 10 points in 25 of 29 games played. Whiting also leads the GCAC in rebounds per game and is second in the league in steals with 2.31 per contest.

Roché, a native of New Orleans, LA, leads the team in scoring with an average of 14.8 points per game and also paces the team in rebounding, with an average of 8.6 boards per night. Roché has recorded five double doubles since joining the team at the beginning of January and has reached double figures in scoring in 15 out of 16 games played.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Welcome New Students!

January 4, 2011: New Student Orientation is scheduled for Monday, January 10, 2011, from 9:30 -11:00am. It is your first introduction to life in the classroom and around campus.

New Student Orientation is designed to introduce you to Belhaven University, prepare you for the start of school, introduce you to student leaders, and assist you as you become acclimated to university life. Sign in will begin at 9:00am in the lobby area of Barber Auditorium. If you have any questions about New Student Orientation, please call 601.968.8990 or e-mail stleadership@belhaven.edu.

Belhaven stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas. Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Two Faculty Members Welcomed to Belhaven's "Legacy of Learning"

Dr. Sandra L. Rasberry and Dr. Elizabeth B. Williford join forty-two other faculty members who have devoted twenty years or more of teaching service to Belhaven. This esteemed group creates Belhaven’s, “Legacy of Learning,” and has impacted the lives and academic careers of countless students.

Dr. Sandra L. Rasberry began in 1988 as an assistant professor of Elementary Education and quickly rose to chair of the department (1991-2002). During this time, Dr. Rasberry played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of Belhaven’s master degree programs.

In 2002, Dr. Rasberry was named Dean of the School of Education. Under her guidance and leadership, the department and divisions continue to thrive. While she may not be “in the classroom” these days, Dr. Rasberry is always prepared with words of wisdom for students and those around her.

“I have always known teaching as a ministry,” she stated. “To instruct students is a great joy, but to have a spiritual influence on them has been the most inspiring aspect of my career. I count it a great privilege to have been given the freedom to do just that here at Belhaven.”

Dr. Elizabeth Bruce Williford arrived on campus as an undergraduate student in the fall of 1974 and graduated just three years later with a degree in Psychology. As is the case with most things in life, timing is everything.

“I applied for an open position at Belhaven after finishing my doctorate work,” she explained. “I didn’t get the job, but two years later Belhaven came calling. However, I was expecting my son and could not accept the offer. Finally, when it was God’s time, I was able to accept their offer in 1988 and I have been here since.”

Throughout her two decades of teaching service at her alma mater, Dr. Williford has seen the number of majors grow from around five students to more than sixty. As department chair, she was instrumental in expanding to include coursework in social sciences. Under her leadership, the psychology department has turned out a large number of outstanding students who have become quite accomplished in their fields.

“I absolutely love my students,” she exclaimed. “They have each exhibited such a heart for helping others and a passion for learning. I pray that I have helped them grow spiritually and in their knowledge of psychology. If part of my legacy has been helping them find purpose and direction, then it has been a good one.”

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Vocal Concert: A British Cup of Tea

November 19, 2009: Tea, anyone? The Belhaven Choral arts ensembles and Vocal Arts soloists will present “A British Cup of Tea” on Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 pm in the Belhaven College Center for the Arts, Concert Hall.

Under the direction of Dr. Christopher Shelt, Belhaven musical artists will explore a diverse and entertaining offering of British vocal music from the 16th century to the present. Planned repertoire will include works by Handel, Britten, Stanford, Mathias, Rutter and a selection of English madrigals. Complimentary admission. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Come Dressed for High Tea!

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Westscott and Eiland Sweep GCAC Player of the Week Honors

April 28, 2009—Belhaven College Blazers Craig Craig Westcott and Lake Eiland were named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference pitcher and player of the week for their efforts on the baseball field during the week of April 20th through April 26th.

Westcott, a senior from Chalmette, Louisiana, was named pitcher of the week after picking up his 10th win of the season on Saturday at 16th ranked William Carey University. Westcott pitched all seven innings, allowing only three hits and one unearned run while striking out nine Crusader batters. Westcott is currently seventh in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.51 and is second in the NAIA in total strikeouts.

Eiland, a sophomore second baseman from Collins, Mississippi, compiled a .400 batting average during the week and a slugging percentage of .600 in four games. Eiland had three more doubles which gives him a team leading 18 on the season. He also collected 5 more RBI’s, putting his total at 42 so far in 2009.

The Blazers are currently 36-18 on the season and will open the GCAC tournament on Thursday, April 30 against the University of Mobile. All of the play-by-play action can be heard via Stretch Internet through the Belhaven Athletics website.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Tunes, Tutus, and Turning Wheels

October 13, 2011 (Jackson) - Tunes, Tutus, and Turning Wheels is a dance performance unlike any other. This exciting concert highlights the artistic expressions of those with and without disabilities.

The Belhaven Center for the Arts, Concert Hall will host the performance on October 29 at 7:30 P.M., and will feature dancers from various walks of life, gathered together in a mixture of choreographic styles to present an entire evening of dance, music and creative arts.

Cynthia Newland, chair of Belhaven University’s Dance Department and Director of Tunes,Tutus and Turning Wheels states, "It continues to be an honor to present an event for the community that displays such evident diversity of participants. Attending this unique program, the audience will have an experience that will inspire their hearts as well as bringing a greater awareness of the abilities of those with various disabilities."

An exciting feature in this year’s performance is the Methodist Rehabilitation Center Wheelchair Fencing Team. Newland adds, "The opportunity to bring together the athleticism of fencing and ballet confirms the vigor of both art forms. Although terminology differs, both require eloquent grace and the power to articulate and execute precision.”

The Tunes, Tutus, and Turning Wheels performance will include choreography from Mark Tomasic of Dancing Wheels, members of the Methodist Rehabilitation Center Wheelchair Fencing Team, Nicole Marquez, Belhaven University faculty and students of the dance and music departments and children from Little Light House, and an exhibit from the VSA MS Community Art Group.

General admission is $10 and $5 for seniors, students, and children. There is complimentary admission for Belhaven faculty, staff and students. Doors open at 7:00 P.M.

Belhaven proudly stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Transfer B and U Day 2012

June 28, 2012 (Jackson) - Transfer students will get their first glimpse into life at Belhaven University and start preparing for their first semester during Transfer B & U Day on July 20.

Suzanne Sullivan, Director of Admission, said “Transfer B & U Day is the perfect day for transfers to come to campus and register for classes for the fall semester. We want them to come on campus to get connected and engaged with faculty and other students with whom they will spend the next two-three years.”

Students can check-in Friday at 9:30 A.M. in the lobby of the Barber Auditorium and can meet withfaculty advisors, schedule fall semester classes, get a student ID and parking decal. The bookstore and business offices will be open and ready to get students set up for the semester.

“Many transfer students work or have other responsibilities, so we realize they don’t have a lot of free time, so we do our best to schedule the events of the day in a short amount of time,” adds Sullivan.

Preregister for Transfer B & U Day and mark your calendars for July 20, 2012.

Belhaven stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Upcoming Theatre Production: As It Is In Heaven

April 3, 2009–The Belhaven College Theatre Department announces its production of As It Is In Heaven, a play by Arlene Hutton. The show will run on April 16-18 and 22-25, 2009. Directed by Sarah Coury, this production is set in the early 1800s in a Shaker-ville in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. The play takes place during a period in time known as “Mother Ann’s Work,” when traditional Shaker worship practices were challenged by new revelations led by a younger and newer Shaker generation. Central to the play are themes of relationship to both God and man, and the personal faith and peace required at times to reconcile the two to each other. General Admission $10, Students/Seniors $5. 7:30 pm, Belhaven College Center for the Arts, Flexible Theatre. To purchase tickets, contact the Belhaven box office (601-965-7026 or boxoffice@belhaven.edu.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Visit Belhaven on February 13, 2009

It only takes one visit to see what sets Belhaven apart from other colleges. Experience the difference first-hand during our upcoming Discover Day on February 13, 2009. Students will have the opportunity to meet a professor in their desired major, take a tour of campus, and eat lunch in the dining commons. There’s also a chance to meet with your personal Belhaven Admission Counselor and discuss how to apply for admission. Financial aid counselors will also be available to help you understand how financial aid works for you. 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 13th. Visit the Belhaven Undergraduate Admission website for more information, or sign up for the Discover Day right now!

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Welcome Week for New Belhaven Students

 

July 10, 2012 (Jackson) - Welcome Week is coming August 18; freshmen and new transfer students can expect an exciting first week of college. The week is filled with many fun and informative activities that will help students prepare for college life at Belhaven. Check-in is at 9:00 A.M. in the Student Center.

JoBeth Petty, Director of Student Leadership, said, “Welcome Week is an exciting and fast-paced week, when new students can get connected and begin to make Belhaven University their home.” The Welcome Week Guide, provided at check-in, will give additional information about events, resources and staff. The schedule of events includes everything from academic orientation and meeting your major to fun fellowship, an off-campus road trip, square dancing and times of worship.

Orientation staff will give campus tours to help students and parents become more familiar with the campus. “Our orientation staff will be there to help and serve as valuable points of contact throughout this week of transition,“ adds Petty.

Belhaven’s Student Center will be set-up to take care of every need. Students can turn in all necessary forms and paperwork while getting their mailbox key, student ID card and car decal. Welcome Week is also a good time for students to meet professors and staff while spending time with other classmates.

Welcome Week is not only designed to introduce students to Belhaven, but parents and families as well. All new Belhaven parents will receive their own packets at check-in that will include their own agenda and guide to Belhaven. Parents will also have an orientation and welcome dinner.

The parents schedule for Welcome Week will give parents a chance to meet faculty and staff, a look into college life and a glimpse into what is happening at Belhaven this year. For more information about Belhaven's Welcome Week, contact the Office of Student Leadership.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Victorian Thriller, Angel Street, Premieres at Belhaven Theatre 151

 

September 24, 2012 (Jackson) - The play Angel Street will premiere September 25-29 at the Center for the Arts in Theatre 151. Ginny Holladay, Belhaven senior and theatre student is directing this play. It starts this coming Tuesday at 7:30 P.M. and will run for five days.

Angel Street, written by Patrick Hamilton, is a Victorian thriller, murder mystery that tells the story of a young wife whose fragile mental state hangs in the balance between her potentially dangerous husband and an eccentric detective claiming to have all the answers.

Theatre 151 is a unique theatre experience because it seats about 40 people around the stage and puts audience members right in the action.

Go ahead and get tickets today. Email boxoffice@belhaven.edu or call 601-965-7026 to reserve your seat. General admission is $10 and $5 for students and senior citizens. Admission for Belhaven faculty, staff and students is free.M

This is just one of the many exciting events from Belhaven’s School of the Arts. Check out Arts Ablaze for plays, dance and music concerts, poetry readings, gallery exhibits and more happening this year.

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Belhaven University stands among select Christian colleges and universities and has been repeatedly named one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys." The University offers 30 academic majors across a full spectrum of disciplines as well as a variety of graduate programs. In addition, Belhaven has achieved the distinction of being among only 30 universities nationally accredited in each of the major arts – music, theatre, visual art and dance. All programs are taught from a Christian worldview perspective and are guided by the mission to prepare students academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Belhaven University serves over 3,700 students offering undergraduate and graduate degrees on its residential campus, an online degree program, and graduate and adult degree programs in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Upcoming Events for Graduate Teacher Education

June 4, 2012 (Jackson) - Mark your calendars for some important teacher education events on the Jackson campus. These events supply students with information, practice, and advancement in the teaching profession.

Check out these important dates:

Graduate Teacher Education Information Session
July 26, 2012, 6:00 p.m.
Student Center Theatre
Please call 601-968-8947 to reserve your spot!

Praxis Workshop
July 14, 2012
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Irby Hall – Room 216
Please call 601-968-8947 to reserve your spot!

October 6, 2012
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Irby Hall – Room 216<
Please call 601-968-8947 to reserve your spot!

Application Deadline – June 11, 2012

New Student Orientation - June 21, 2012, 6:00 p.m., Student Center Theatre

Classes Start - June 26, 2012

Belhaven stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Visitors from Spain

April 21, 2010: Belhaven University welcomes Directors Hector and Lilli Ramirez of Aslan Performing Arts Center (a Christian, non-profit cultural organization based in Madrid, Spain) to the Jackson campus on April 29 from 11am-1:30pm. The Directors will share with students in the various arts disciplines about their organization as well as about the uses of the arts in the mission-field.

Aslan Performing Arts Center’s purpose is to create and produce aesthetically meaningful and relevant works of art that entertain, edify, educate and bring integration and harmony to its surrounding community as well as to society as a whole. Make sure to visit the Cooper Room in the Student Center to learn more about them.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Wooten Wins 1st at Best Teaching Practices

October 21, 2009: Ms. Kathy Wooten, Assistant Professor of Accounting at Belhaven College, won first place in the Best Teaching Practices for Accounting competition, held at the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA) conference. This was Ms. Wooten's first time as a presenter at the annual conference, which made her success all the more outstanding.

Ms. Wooten's presentation, entitled "Head, Hands and Heart in Managerial Accounting," showed how professors can integrate traditional lecture methods, hands-on classroom experiences, and Christian principles into the classroom. She used her Managerial Accounting class as an example, where she recently had her students simulate a t-shirt factory in the classroom--making them responsible for everything from production line to quality control. This hands-on project gave the students a broader knowledge of accounting in the real world, and they had fun as they gained new knowledge.

The Belhaven College School of Business has been recognized by Business Reform Magazine as one of the best Christian Business Schools in the country. The School of Business is fully accredited by the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education, which accredits more than two hundred Business Schools in 47 states and 15 foreign countries in Europe, Asia, North America and South America.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Two Music Majors Join the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra

June 8, 2012 (Jackson) - Two Belhaven University music students are on their way to a professional career as musicians with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (MSO).

Shellie Brown (’12) and senior Jocelyn Zhu are both violin performance majors who chose to audition at the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra National Audition on May 19. The MSO expanded their search nationally, but found talent from a neighboring university. After two rounds of the audition, they both won the MSO National Audition.

Song Xie, Associate Professor of Music, said, “I am very proud of Shellie and Jocelyn. This is a significant step towards their professional careers a musicians and it also shows the caliber of teaching we give to our music students at Belhaven University.”

Belhaven’s Bachelor of Arts in Music: Performance Emphasis has helped prepare Brown and Zhu to pursue their dreams of performance as a career. Both Brown and Zhu now have a full-time, Core/A contract position and have officially become MSO core players this season with annual salaries and benefits.

The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra started on Belhaven’s campus in 1960 and since then has grown into what it is today, full of talent and eager to share the love of music.

Belhaven stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Transfer BC and U Day set for July 17

July 6, 2009—Belhaven College announces Transfer BC & U Day, an opportunity for all incoming transfer students to meet with a faculty advisor to schedule their classes for the fall semester and to complete necessary business items before school begins. Scheduled for Friday, July 17, Transfer BC & U Day is an great way for transfer students to get familiar with the Belhaven campus, meet other transfer students, have a student I.D. card made, set up a library account, and set up an internet address—all before the fall semester begins. All transfers are strongly encouraged to attend this half-day event as they transition into Belhaven life.

There is no cost for Transfer BC & U Day, but students should make sure they have paid the application fee and enrollment deposit before they arrive. An outline of the half-day event is below. For registration information, lodging specifics and an FAQ, visit the Transfer BC & U Day website.

Schedule of Events

9:30 am Check in, Barber Auditorium Lobby
10:00 am Welcome/Instructions/Info Session, Barber Auditorium
10:30 am Blazenet Training
12:00 pm Advising/Registration
12:30-1:30 pm Lunch, Dining Commons
1:30-2:30 pm Gillespie Hall will be open

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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What I Say Goes: A Musical Revue of Motherhood Opens October 20.

October 11, 2011 (Jackson) - The Belhaven Musical Theatre Revue, What I Say Goes: A Musical Revue of Motherhood will be starting Thursday, October 20-22 at 7:30 P.M. in the Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center.

Don't miss this fall's musical theatre production of What I Say Goes: A Musical Revue of Motherhood. It contains pieces from some of Broadway's best shows, all centering around the theme of mothers.

Get ready to laugh, cry, and be entertained as you see some of Belhaven's finest performers showcase mothers in a way you've never seen before! Admission is free and doors open at 7:00 P.M.

Keep checking in with Belhaven for more upcoming Arts Ablaze events from our School for the Arts students.

Belhaven proudly stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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Zhu wins 1st at Concerto Competition

February 8, 2010: Belhaven University freshman Jocelyn Zhu, a violin performance major, won first place at the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra (HHSO) Youth Concerto Competition held February 6, 2010 in South Carolina. She has also been invited to play with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra as soloist in December 2010. Zhu was among nine finalists from the Southeastern United States.

The Belhaven Music Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). For more information about the music degree programs or performance schedules, visit the Music department online.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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VOTE NOV. 6: Voter Information

Published on Friday, November 2nd, 2012

When do I vote? Where do I vote? What do I bring? What’s on my ballot?

Find out all the information you need @ www.rockthevote.com/election-center/state/massachusetts.html

1.    If you registered using your Worcester Becker College on- campus address

Vote @
Elm Park Tower
425 Pleasant Street
Worcester, MA 01609

2.   If you registered using your Leicester Becker College on-campus address

Vote @
Leicester Town Hall
3 Washburn Square
Leicester, MA 01524

3.   If you registered with any other Massachusetts address

Find out where to vote @ www.rockthevote.com/election-center/state/massachusetts.html

4.   If you have questions about voting, the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website provides valuable information – such as the location of your polling place, the hours polls are open and how to vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to vote in person. The website is: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele12/ballot_questions_12/message12.htm.

This site also provides information on the three Massachusetts ballot questions, including official summaries and links to the websites of the campaigns for and against the questions.

5.   For those of you who live outside the Commonwealth, you can obtain elections information for states across the U.S. from the United States Election Assistance Commission at: http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/contact_your_state.aspx.

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Becker College Celebrates Non-traditional Students, Nov. 5-9

Published on Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

Becker College is celebrating National Non-traditional Students Week, November 6-9. The college’s Center for Accelerated & Professional Studies has planned a number of events that are aimed at its more than 400 adult students and also open to the public. A full list of events, times, and locations is included in a Non-traditional Students Week brochure.

“We are proud to serve and celebrate a growing population of non-traditional students,” says Colleen Bielitz, dean of the Center for Accelerated & Professional Studies. “Every step we take in this new and ever-shifting educational landscape is done with the intention of keeping us focused on being relevant, connected, and engaged in meeting the needs of today’s professionals.”

Two seminars, “Staying Safe,” and “Laughing Yoga,” scheduled for Wednesday, November 7, will give attendees skills they need to face today’s chaotic society with pragmatism, and humor.

Staying Safe: A Basic Guide to Navigating the World – Steven Moysey, Ph.D.,
6:00 – 7:00 p.m., Weller Academic Center, Room 311

In this innovative and slightly irreverent session, Steve Moysey, Ph.D., will review some simple and common sense strategies for keeping you and your family safe in an increasingly chaotic world.  Whether you are out jogging, out for a drive, at the grocery store, or just relaxing at home, Dr. Moysey will outline some practical and applicable methods to avoid being the victim of crimes against person and property.

Dr. Moysey has worked with law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the United Kingdom and the United States on issues surrounding counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and hostage/barricade situations.  He has worked with several law enforcement groups on the development of their hostage negotiation programs and has been published internationally in several major journals. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology. In addition, Dr. Moysey has more than 30 years of experience as a martial artist in several different systems and as a tactical firearms trainer. Dr. Moysey is the director of continuing education in the Center for Accelerated & Professional Studies.

Laughing Yoga—Terri Gerhardt
7:00 – 7:30 p.m., Weller Academic Center, Room 316

How would you like to laugh like a child again?  Laughter Yoga is a new, revolutionary mind-body “medicine” that combines simple laughter exercises with gentle Yoga breathing and stretching to enhance overall health and happiness. Benefits from this unique and scientifically proven concept include improved stamina, lowered blood pressure, increased endorphins, and a sense of joy, peace and well-being.

You do not need to tell jokes or even have a good sense of humor to get the benefits from Laughter Yoga. Just come with an open mind and let your inner child enjoy some play and fun. Laughter is contagious and before long your “fake” laughter will turn into the real deal.

Terri Gerhardt is an adjunct professor in The Center for Accelerated & Professional Studies as well as a teacher at Grafton Middle School.

The week’s events culminate on Friday, November 9, with the annual Alpha Sigma Lambda ceremony, in which more than 30 non-traditional students currently enrolled in accelerated programs at Becker College will be inducted in the national honors society for non-traditional students.

The Becker College Center for Accelerated & Professional Studies offers programs designed to provide adult learners with flexible degree and certificate program options. Courses are 5, 7, or 15 weeks in length and are held one evening per week on campus or online.

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Becker College Launches 225th Commencement Anniversary Celebration

Becker College has officially launched an anniversary celebration honoring its 225th Commencement, which will culminate at its Commencement ceremony on May 11, 2013.

“The theme of this significant milestone in the College’s history, Celebrating a History of Changing Lives, focuses on all that has made Becker College a significant institution for more than two centuries,” said Becker College President Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D. “We will celebrate our 225th Commencement Anniversary in numerous ways in the weeks and months ahead.”

A number of projects that are now underway to honor the 225th Commencement Anniversary include:

Launch of the website: www.becker.edu/225-commencement .A display of artifacts from Becker’s past, in a display case in the newly opened George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Campus Center. The first exhibit is “Student Life,” and some items of interest include yearbooks, photos, a 19th-century course catalog, dance cards, beanies, a letter sweater, a cheerleader skirt, and pages from the Leicester Academy 1894 Entrance Examination. Other historically themed displays will follow throughout the academic year, including one focused on veterans, November 5-16, in honor of Veterans Day.Creating a College Archive, along with a “Preserve Our Pride” campaign and call for artifacts and memorabilia from all eras, to help expand the Archive and increase knowledge about the college’s institutional heritage.A recently published 2012-13 wall calendar with images and facts from the present and the past.A call for nominations for the most influential people in the College’s history.A special Annual Fund appeal.

Since John Hancock and Samuel Adams signed the charter for Leicester Academy and E.C.A. Becker opened Becker’s Business College, Becker College has attained a national reputation. Over the centuries, academic programming has kept pace with the evolving needs of society:

Leicester Academy was the third preparatory school in Massachusetts, the first in Central Massachusetts, and the first in the Commonwealth to accept female students, which the Academy did from the very beginning.Becker’s Business College taught students bookkeeping, penmanship, and arithmetic, and also offered the first class in shorthand and typing in Worcester.The College served as the launch pad of several program “firsts”—the first major in journalism offered in the East (1937), the first retail merchandising program in Massachusetts (1950), and the first accredited associate degree in science, in veterinary technology, in Massachusetts (1978).Early human health care programs at the college included a medical secretarial course, which was introduced in 1938 and became a national model that attracted a large number of students.

Present- day Becker College continues to garner recognition. Becker is one of nine institutions selected for the 2012-2013 American Council on Education Internationalization Laboratory cohort to craft strategies to increase global engagement on campus and in communities at large. In 2012, Becker was recognized as “one of the nation’s best undergraduate colleges” by The Princeton Review.

“Academic and campus transformations over the years have created a superior learning and living environment on two distinctive campuses,” says President Johnson. “Our recent achievements and growth are further evidence of our commitment to our students and to ensuring that Becker College provides a first-class collegiate experience.”

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Becker College Welcomes 30-Year Industry Veteran To Head Alumni Relations And The Becker Fund

Published on Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

Becker College announced today that Charles E. Roddy recently joined the Office of Institutional Advancement as director of alumni relations and The Becker Fund. As director, Roddy will engage the college’s growing alumnae/i population and develop fundraising initiatives focused on advancing the mission of the college.

“We are pleased to have Charlie join Becker College for the purpose of focusing on and serving our ever-growing alumni population,” said Dean Hickey, vice president of institutional advancement. “Charlie brings a wealth of experience to this position and an enthusiasm to actively engage with our alumnae/i.”

A native of Worcester, Mass., Roddy brings with him more than 30 years of experience in non-profit management. For more than 25 years, he managed start-up, expansion, and enhancement efforts of alumnae/i programs ranging in size from 10,000 to 200,000. These have included the UCLA School of Medicine, the University of San Francisco (USF), and Old Dominion University (ODU). The hallmark of his approach has been an avid commitment to research methodology in program design while employing a collaborative approach to all his efforts.

In addition, Roddy has served in development roles at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, as a director of individual giving; interim director of development at The Worcester Historical Museum, and most recently director of development at the Peter Michael Foundation of Sausalito, Calif.

Throughout his career, Roddy and his teams have been recognized extensively for their work, garnering nine awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), including a Heavy Hitter Award and the CASE Award of Excellence for their work with the ODU alumnae/i relations program, several Student Alumni Program Awards at both USF and ODU while also earning recognition for survey work by both the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC )and the Jesuit Advancement Administrators( JAA).

Roddy earned a bachelor of arts in psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a master’s degree in education administration and policy studies from UCLA.

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Becker Community Veterans Speak at Veterans Day Ceremony

Published on Monday, November 12th, 2012

Veterans Day is a time in which we acknowledge those men and women who serve and have served our country as members of the military. They uphold the American way of life and have risked much so that we can enjoy the safety and security that much of the world still struggles to achieve.

To honor the veterans among the Becker College community as well as the approximately 23.2 million veterans who have also served our country, the College commemorated Veterans Day with a ceremony on Monday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m., on the Worcester Campus quad.

The program included words from members of our community who have served their country–Chris Lizotte ’15, Dean Hickey ’83, and Professor John Deitrick–a reading of the names of our faculty, staff, and students who have served, and attendees were led by .

Banners, in addition to 100 American flags, were placed on each campus, and red, white, and blue ribbon pins were distributed at College dining halls.

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Becker College Students Support Causes Near and Far

Published on Monday, November 26th, 2012

Final exams begin in two short weeks, but Becker College students are making plenty of time to support socially responsible causes in their communities, near and far.

Students and faculty have organized what has become an annual event to support a service trip to the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Grand Goave, Haiti. The fundraiser will be held on Thursday, November 29, at 5:00 p.m., at 80 William Street on the Worcester Campus and includes an appearance by Be Like Brit founders Len and Cherylann Gengel, a slideshow and remarks from volunteers from the May 2012 trip, a live auction, and music from the band Main South.

On November 30, members of the Becker College Student Government Association will join 10 Becker Ice Hawks when the hockey players make a return appearance at the City of Worcester Festival of Lights and ice rink opening.

Throughout the semester, freshman and sophomore psychology students and their professors have been participating in a cooperative project to benefit children served by Birthday Wishes, a local nonprofit that delivers birthday parties to children living in homeless shelters. The groups organized fundraisers and collected and assembled materials for craft projects, party supplies, and other items included in the “Birthday in a Box” Program (see photo, left).

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Becker Women’s Tennis Players, Coach Win Major NECC Awards

October 22, 2012

LEICESTER, MASS.- Becker College sophomore Nicole Connolly (Scarborough, Maine) and Regis' Abigail Wehr shared NECC Women's Tennis Player of the Year honors. Both women play the number one singles and doubles spot for their respective teams.

Connolly, who was the NECC Rookie of the Year a season ago, went 9-1 in top singles action and 8-2 in top doubles action during her sophomore campaign. Wehr, a freshman, went 8-2 at the No. 1 singles position and teamed with Jazz Hicks to go a perfect 9-0 at No. 1 doubles in NECC play in 2012. Wehr and Connolly split their two head-to-head singles matches this season. Connolly also earned First Team All-Conference in both singles and doubles

Becker freshman Kathleen Razzaboni (Hooksett, N.H.) earned conference Rookie of the Year honors. Razzaboni went 8-1 in number two singles action and 8-2 in number one doubles this year during conference play. Razzaboni also earned First Team All-Conference in both singles and doubles.

Becker's David Bostick was named NECC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season and third time in his career after leading the Hawks to an 8-2 regular season record.

NECC all-conference selections are determined by a vote of the conference coaches.

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In Honor of Veterinary Technicians

Published on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

In October, we observe National Veterinary Technician Week. According to the Humane Society of the United States, more than one-third of American households own at least one cat or dog. When we take our pets to the vet, we would do well to take a moment to thank the unsung heroes of the veterinary profession—the veterinary technicians.

Veterinary technicians are an invaluable resource in the veterinary medical community.  Without them, animal hospitals would close and the profession would atrophy.  Known as “the nurse of the veterinary world”, they are the eyes and ears for busy veterinarians with packed waiting rooms.  Veterinary technicians advocate for patients in pain, the shoulders for clients to cry on, the resource who patiently explains complicated instructions to pet owners.  They also perform a number of other routine but vital duties—answering phones, running lab tests, monitoring anesthesia, restraining nervous dogs, drawing blood samples, maintaining the cleanliness of facilities, preparing medication, and setting up appointments. Technicians are responsible for informing the veterinarian about the medical history of their patients, drawing up appropriate vaccines, and educating clients about routine preventive care, nutrition, and husbandry of their pets. They walk dogs that have difficulty walking, pill cats that won’t cooperate, clean and love animals that need help.

The Becker College Veterinary Clinic is one of only a handful of college-run animal clinics open to the public. We care for hundreds of patients annually, as well as teaching animals (who go on to find adoptive homes), so students are provided with an uncommon opportunity for hands-on experience. Many veterinary technician graduates have gone on to work in veterinary school hospitals, such as the Cummings Veterinary School at Tufts University in Grafton, where they provide invaluable services and impart numerous practical animal handling skills to veterinary students.

We tell our veterinary technician students at Becker College to look for a position where their knowledge, talents, and opinions are valued.  At Becker, we prepare these veterinary technician students for the “real world.” All of their hard work and skills are of great value to any clinic, and the Becker reputation helps these students to get their foot in the door and elevates them above the rest of the pack.

We are grateful to have the opportunity to give back to our profession, to train the students who will one day be the ones helping to train veterinarians, as they have helped us.  In recognition of National Veterinary Technician Week 2012—and every day—we want to thank all technicians for supporting veterinarians and animal owners alike—as well as the animals and people we all touch daily with our mission of care and dedication.

Kelly Wolfenson Guay, B.S., DVM
Assistant Professor and Lenfest Animal Health Center Clinic Director
Becker College Department of Animal Studies

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At Becker College Game Jam, Students Produce 15 New Games in 24 Hours

Published on Monday, October 29th, 2012

The Becker College Department of Design announced the winning teams in the seventh bi-annual 24-Hour Game Jam, held from 5:00 p.m. on October 19 to 5:00 p.m. on October 20. The submissions were judged by a panel of Becker College faculty, advisors, and student representation, basing their ratings on each team’s ability to represent the theme/object they received, the creativity of the game design, the quality of gameplay, overall appearance, and the fun factor.

The top three submissions are:

Most Intensely Strategic: Anthony Botelho ’13 for “Elemental Horror” (theme/object: horror/the elements)Most Amazing Good Time: Daniel Wells ’14, Chris Clegg ’14, Nate Casimiro ’14, Nicole Oliver ’14, Jess Lucas ’14, Joe Keen ’14, Bill Sontag ’14for “Sixteenth Sacrilege of Saturn” (theme/object: juxtaposition/aliens)Most Chaotic Conundrum: Brandon Cimino ’15, Dan Flanagan ’15, Conner Eades ’15, Dillon Skiffington ’15, Jacob Harder ’15, Oliver Awat ’15, Dan Covey ’15 for “Six Barreled Justice” (theme/object: retro/cowboys)

“The record turnout was fantastic and, as usual, the submissions were impressive,” said Professor of Game Development Terrasa Ulm. “Participating in the Game Jam gives students a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience developing games in groups, discover new skills, add new work to their portfolios, tap into their creative expression, and have fun doing it.”

The remaining 24-Hour Game Jam teams and games are:

“Beat ‘Em Up” by Jeff Garuti, Lorion Oshin, Paul Buccos, Scott Tongue, and Brian Bowman  (Most Mighty Mayhem)“Cold” by Dean O’Coin, Gage Conklin, Jen Murphy, and Derrek Marcus (Most Engaging Ending)“For Keeps” by  Joshua Fitzsimmons, Andrew Kerrigan, Mathew Black, and Michael Garcia (Most Daunting Duels)“Hobo Project” by Marc Brown, Ryan McCurdy, and Robert Schultz (Most Righteous Read)“Jubilation Spies” by Matt DiDomenico, Jose, Dustin Thayer, Mayim Gillis, and Jason Larrivey (Most Amusing Adventure)“Never Wonder” by Stephen Wood, Karen Layman, Rebecca Ernest, and Andrew Corner (Most Fantastical Fair)“Nimbus” Adam Roy, Mike Flood, Nick Mudry, and Lauren Fiscus (Most Musical Moments)“Oakwood” by Nathan Berry (Most Spooky Specter)“Petty Crime” by Alex St. Martin, Joshua Corvinus, Liliana Craig, and Matthew McDonald (Most Twisted Two-Player)“Square Wolf” by David Denton, Cian Rice, Dan Cherkassky, Chris Gengler, and Paddy Sutton (Most Suspenseful Situations)“The TurKey” by Alexander Jersey, Curtis Geter, Colin Egan, Andrew Pariseau, and Jason Tripp (Most Rocketing Ride)

All of the games are available to play for free, via http://tinyurl.com/9n5qwsq.

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NSBRI News: NSBRI, NASA soliciting research proposals

BCM Communications713-798-4710

HOUSTON -- (August 3, 2012) -- The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) and NASA's Human Research Program are jointly soliciting ground-based, analog definition and flight definition proposals. The NASA Research Announcement NNJ12ZSA002N entitled "Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions" was released July 30, 2012.

This NRA is available through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage and then linking through the menu listings "Solicitations" to "Open Solicitations." On the Open Solicitations page, select NNJ12ZSA002N from the list of Solicitations.

NSBRI is soliciting proposals for six of its seven research teams. Research topics include visual impairment observed in U.S. astronauts. The topic areas include:

Examine the role of venous constriction and compliance in spaceflight-associated visual impairment and increased intracranial pressure, the effects of the environmental conditions likely to be encountered in space on venous compliance, and consequential predisposing factors.

Using operationally relevant scenarios or tasks for the spaceflight environment, develop and validate methods to assess task performance in real-time, provide immediate feedback, and recommend appropriate changes in time to improve mission outcomes.

Integrate and measure the effectiveness of a suite of fully developed products and programs that can heighten the exercise experience of astronauts using the equipment available on the ISS. Outcomes determined should include adherence to fitness goals, aerobic and musculoskeletal health, motor activity repertoire in microgravity, and the alleviation of stress and maintenance of behavioral health.

Refine entirely non-obtrusive objective means of detecting and mitigating cognitive performance deficits, stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression for the operational setting of spaceflight.

Using an animal model that appropriately parallels the anatomical, vascular and retinal characteristics of the human visual system, examine the contribution of the spaceflight environment and any underlying predisposition, to the retinal pathology (optic disc edema, globe flattening, and choroidal folds) described in a subset of astronauts, and quantify decrements in visual performance.

Refine and validate plug-and-play sensor and effector probes that integrate seamlessly with the proposed NASA Flexible Ultrasound System and address or mitigate medical conditions likely to be encountered during exploration missions.

Proposals are solicited by NASA in the areas of Sensorimotor Impairment and Space Motion Sickness; Epidemiological Evidence of Spaceflight Induced Cardiovascular Disease; Computational Models of Cephalad Fluid Shifts; Spaceflight Biochemical Profile; Maintenance and Regulation of Team Function and Performance over Extended Durations; and Development of Safety and Efficiency Metrics for Human-Automation Systems. NASA is also soliciting investigations or technologies lasting no more than one year that provide innovative approaches to any of the defined risks contained in the Integrated Research Plan of the Human Research Program.

Proposals solicited through this NRA will use a two-step proposal process. Only Step-1 proposers determined to be relevant with respect to the solicited research of this NRA will be invited to submit full Step-2 proposals.

Proposals responding to the NASA emphases and NSBRI emphases must be submitted separately, and will result in separate evaluations and awards. Step-1 proposals are due on Sept. 4, 2012, and invited Step-2 proposals are due on Dec. 3, 2012. Participation is open to all categories of organizations, including educational institutions, industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other Government agencies.

Proposals must be submitted electronically. Both Step-1 and Step-2 proposals to NSBRI must be submitted via NSPIRES. Step-1 proposals to NASA may be submitted via the NASA Proposal data system NSPIRES or via Grants.gov. Invited Step-2 proposals to NASA must be submitted via NSPIRES.

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COUP-TFII sparks prostate cancer progression

HOUSTON -- (November 28, 2012) -- Prostate cancer presents a dilemma for patients and the physicians who treat them. Which cancers are essentially indolent and present no risk and which are life threatening? Which can be watched and which need aggressive treatment?

Drs. Ming-Jer and Sophia Tsai, both professors in the department of molecular and cellular biology at Baylor College of Medicine, think a receptor called COUP-TFII that they have long studied may point the way to an answer. In a study that appears online in the journal Nature, they show that high levels (overexpression) of COUP-TFII can overcome a natural barrier to progression of prostate cancer, allowing tumor cells to grow and spread throughout the body – a process called metastasis.

"Levels of COUP-TFII provide a good prognostic marker for prostate cancer when added to other known markers of the disease," said Dr. Ming-Jer Tsai.

"COUP-TFII is an important ‘second hit’ for the progression of prostate cancer and metastasis," said Dr. Sophia Tsai. In other words, one "hit" or mutation might start the process of cells becoming cancerous. The second "hit" would make them more aggressive.

In studies of patient samples, loss of a protein called PTEN or mutations in another signaling pathway called PI3K show up in prostate tumors. However, tumors in which PTEN is lost can remain indolent. One theory is that loss of PTEN increases TGF-beta signaling, which creates a barrier to prostate cancer progression.

The Tsais’ studies in mice that lack PTEN show that loss of COUP-TFII inhibits the development of prostate tumors in the animals. When mice have a gene that produces insufficient levels of PTEN, COUP-TFII overexpression enhances prostate tumor progression. Further studies in mice that lost PTEN showed that high levels of COUP-TFII promoted the metastatic spread of the prostate cancer.

Studies in cell cultures and in human tissues confirmed the activity of COUP-TFII in promoting a more aggressive form of prostate cancer that could spread and metastasize.

The next step is find out how to inhibit COUP-TFII and prevent so-called indolent prostate cancers from becoming more aggressive, said Ming-Jer Tsai.

Others who took part in this work include Jun Qin, San-Pin Wu, Fangyan Dai, Xin Xie, Chiang-Min Cheng, Chad J. Creighton, Anna Frolov, Gustavo Ayala, Xia Lin, Xin-Hua Feng and, Michael M. Ittmann, all of BCM and Shaw-Jenq Tsai of National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine in Tainan, Taiwan. Ayala is now with the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Funding for this study came from the National Institutes of Health (NIH DK62434, DK59820, DK45641 and HL76448).

Dr. Sophia Tsai holds the Gordon Cain Professorship and Dr. Ming-Jer Tsai holds the Charles C. Bell, Jr. and Distinguished Service Professorship in Cell Biology.

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For more information on research at Baylor College of Medicine, please go to www.bcm.edu/fromthelab.

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Architecture of rod sensory cilium disrupted by mutation

Graciela Gutierrez713-798-4710

HOUSTON -- (November 21, 2012) -- Using a new technique called cryo-electron tomography, two research teams at Baylor College of Medicine have created a three-dimensional map that gives a better understanding of how the architecture of the rod sensory cilium (part of one type of photoreceptor in the eye) is changed by genetic mutation and how that affects its ability to transport proteins as part of the light-sensing process.

Almost all mammalian cells have cilia. Some are motile and some are not. They play a central role in cellular operations, and when they are defective because of genetic mutations, people can go blind, have cognitive defects, develop kidney disease, grow too many fingers or toes or become obese. Such mutations cause cilia defects known in the aggregate as ciliopathies.

"The major significance of this report lies in our being able to, for the first time, look in three dimensions at the structural alterations in ciliopathies," said Dr. Theodore G. Wensel, chair of biochemistry and molecular biology at BCM and corresponding author of the report that appears in the journal Cell. The report is spotlighted on the issue’s cover.

In collaboration with the National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, led by Dr. Wah Chiu, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at BCM, Wensel and his colleagues established such three dimensional images for cilia in three examples of mice known to have cilopathies.

These mice have genetic mutations that lead to defects in the structure of the rod outer segment. The rod outer segment is part of the photoreceptor in the retina called a rod. The rod outer segment contains photosensitive disk membranes that carry rhodopsin, the biological pigment in photoreceptor cells of the retina responsible for the first events that result in the perception of light.

Using cryo-electron tomography, the scientists compared the structures of the rod outer segment in the mutant mice to those in normal mice.

"This is one of the few places in the world where you could do this," said Wensel. The center, run by Chiu, has powerful cryo-electron microscopes that make tomography possible. To achieve the
three-dimensional reconstruction, Dr. Juan T. Chang in Chiu’s center froze the photoreceptors purified by then-graduate student Jared Gilliam in a special way that made it possible to perform electron microscopy. During the microscopy session, the frozen samples were carefully tilted allowing the researchers to take many two-dimensional images that were used in the computer reconstruction of the three-dimensional map.

The light-sensing outer segments of photoreceptors in the retina are connected to the machinery responsible for protein production in the inner segment by a thin cylindrical bundle of microtubules known as the connecting cilium.

"There is a huge flux of material from the inner segment to the outer segment of the photoreceptor," said Wensel. "When there is a defect, then the animal or patient goes blind."

The three-dimensional structure showed that there are vesicles (small sacs) tethered to membrane filaments.

"It looks as though these vesicles that are tethered contain material that will fuse to the plasma membrane and go up the membrane to the outer segment," said Wensel.

In studies of a mouse model of a disease called Bardet Biedl syndrome, developed by the laboratory of Dr. James Lupski, professor of molecular and human genetics at BCM, Wensel and first author Gilliam saw something that was almost shocking--a huge accumulation of these vesicles. The Bardet Biedl genes contain the code for a BBsome that forms a membrane coat that makes transport possible through the connecting cilium to the outer coat.

"We would now surmise that the BBsome coat is required for fusion of the plasma membrane or transport up to the outer segment," said Wensel. "It gives us a whole new model for how this works. We need to do more now to nail it down."

"It suggests that aberrant trafficking of proteins is responsible for photoreceptor degeneration," said Gilliam, who is now a postdoctoral associate at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Others who took part in the research include: BCM graduate student Ivette Sandoval; Youwen Zhang and Steven J. Pittler, both of the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Tiansen Li of the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Wensel is the Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry, Chiu is the Alvin Romansky Chair in Biochemistry and Lupski is the Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair in Molecular Genetics.

Funding for this work came from the National Institutes of Health (EY011900 and EY07981, 41RR002250, EY018143, EY10309, EY10581, EY011731, T32EY007001, Vision Research Core Grant EY002520) and the Robert Welch Foundation.

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